Hate Speech Finds a Home on the Web

Politicsdaily | 07/13-09 | bonnie goldstein

[omega4179]

I see that racist, hate-filled jerks have been exercising their free speech over at Free Republic, a political blog directed at readers of the hard right wing persuasion.

One of the great advancements in public communication via the World Wide Web's blogosphere should be spirited discussion among disparate voices, but, as I bemoaned recently of the caliber of observations posted below our own Woman Up discussion, much reader commentary is sadly lacking in decorum, civility, and mutual respect. I had not trolled the devotee output on other web logs and was, until recently, only vaguely aware of similar sliminess appearing on ideologically slanted websites. But a post on FR last week (now pulled) that included a picture of adorable 11-year-old Malia Obama, wearing a peace sign T-shirt in Italy while her father attended the G8 summit, generated commentary of such venom and hate that it drew attention from writers on both sides of the ideological spectrum.

Fox News conservative Bill O'Reilly has called out the right-wing website for being "nasty" and "vile." Today leftish and mainstream roundtables are having a meal on it, too. I will refrain from quoting the mean-spirited commentary and take Free Republic editors at their word that they do not "advocate or condone racism, violence, rebellion, secession, or an overthrow of the government" and suggest they also refrain from encouraging or condoning despicable behavior by some of their readers.

[omega4179]

No examples given by the "author" of this hate piece. People with AOL accounts feel free to post mature comments and vote on comments.

[Shamrock-DW]

Bottom feeders do that all the time.....

[redhead]

I am thinking this person never read the thread in question, and is going strictly on hearsay. Typical.

[omega4179]

Bloggers are useful when they actually write something and cite research and examples but just repeating heresay from other blogs is bottom feeding not journalism.

[tobyhill]

Great picture of the adorable 11 year old with the P-Diddy looking guy with her.
The Obama’s should be ashamed of themselves for using their children for props.

[Nosterrex]

One way of looking at this is that FR must be important to the Socialists or else they wouldn’t bother attacking it. The more FR grows, the greater the attacks. Consider this a red badge of courage.

[Curious George1978]

I agree!

[armymarinemom]

Amazing that hate speech was on vacation for eight years.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This is only "racist" if you're using Al Sharpton's context.

I would say that most FReepers were thoroughly disgusted at the sight of the President's pre-teen daughter dressed like a flower child, which probably caused our enemies to cut loose some guffaws, than actually made racist comments. And no, saying the word "ghetto" doesn't make one a racist.

[RoadKingSE]

Hey goldstein! Where was your angst when 0bama’s predessor was getting ball peen hammered daily for eight years? (crickets) I thought so.

[buccaneer81]

Already posted and yanked. Jim doesn’t want to give them the hits.

[popdonnelly]

I don’t believe this forum is characterized by “hate speech”, whatever that author considers that to be. She seems to be another person with a need to attack conservatives.

[ArtyFO]

What was so hateful about the thread? Someone just asked who was the “thug rapper” with her.

[ElayneJ]

Of course the “facts” are wrong here. Still, if comments like this had been directed at the Palin children, it would be Sarah’s fault for “trotting them out in public.”

[Islander7]

One of the comments on the article:

“...Posted By: eatshit
10:18PM Jul 13th 2009
Its true what they say; Right wingers are crazier than ever. They have crossed the line of sanity and truth be told should be slowly but surely silenced over the next few years. Hey look, Germany has laws to make sure their right wing zealots cant speak or assemble as a political force so we should do the same with ours. Truth be told these people are getting way out of hand and are becoming dangerous and before we wind up with our own group of Nazi’s to contend with something should be done. And it is. We actually now have a czar that is going to combat right wing hate speech....”

Yeah, we are really crazy; like we want to destroy the constitution and all.

[omega4179]

Ok I reported my own post then.

[Blood of Tyrants]

They would have to have the ability to feel shame, first. Anyone who would take advantage of every opportunity this country offered, get a first class education in an elite school, land a cushy job, and eventually become the POTUS and STILL feel that they somehow got a bad deal deserves nothing but disgust.

[GeronL]

no, they were just driving by. It lives at KOS, DU, Huff and CBS late night

[The Big Feed]

Any chance to play the race card will be taken. It’s a great way to stifle free speech. I think the gist of any comments I saw were of the obama’s using the child as a prop. Or, as I posted on my blog, satircally, “is it now fair game to attack the obama children” given that they have now entered the political arena with such shirts. Ultimately, I decided that it was the parents who should be criticized.

Of course, this outrage is lost on liberals when it comes to making fun of Palin’s children.

[muawiyah]

Bonnie deletes comments she doesn't like.

BTW, I don't like Bonnie. She is hatefilled.